Greetings, everyone, and thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV.

I’m Don Valiant and this is the news from Gyeonggi Province this week.

Article 1. Gyeonggi to Aid Residents of Cancelled New Town Projects (0728-1)

[Anchor’s Headline]

Gyeonggi Province announced relief for the resident associations of former new town project districts. Relief will be provided to those associations that are indebted to developers for the initial costs of projects that were later abandoned.

[Report]

▶ Sosa New Town District, Bucheon City

Housing in this part of Bucheon (부천) City is significantly superannuated and its lack of vehicle accessibility and parking facilities has long been a nightmare for its residents.

▶ Bang Nam-gyu / Resident, Sosabon-dong, Bucheon City

“Some residents have to park their cars as far as a 10-minute walk from home. Even that is a struggle and often leads to raised voices among residents.”

This area had been designated for new town development. However, the project was abandoned after the self-dissolution of resident associations, leaving residents with debts for costs already incurred.

▶ Gwon Hyuk-rae / Head of Former Sosabon 3B Redevelopment Association

“We borrowed and used KRW 3 billion. Now all our association directors have their personal properties attached.”

▶ Gyeonggi Province to Aid Resident Associations

Gyeonggi Province will provide the resident associations of cancelled new town project districts with sunk cost support. The primary reason for the dissolution of resident associations is the prolonged suspension of development due to a lack of economic feasibility.

▶ Jeong Seung-hui / General Director, Gyeonggi Province Urban Housing Office

“We will provide redemption of up to 70 percent of approved sunk costs. We will make the provincial support available through local governments that oversee such support…”

Gyeonggi Province has set aside KRW 12.9 billion for the support of sixty-six subject resident associations. This provincial support, in addition to previous resident redevelopment committee support, will also help struggling new town projects to be dismantled early.

Article 2. Gyeonggi Province Holds Family Fashion Show (0727-1)

[Anchor’s Headline]

On July 25, Gyeonggi Province held the Family Fashion Show so as to promote familial happiness among residents. The fashion designers and models featured in this show were members of families who are recovering from personal tragedies. Our reporter was there.

[Report]

▶ Family from Iui-dong, Suwon City

This family group consists of a grandmother and the families of her two sons and four grandchildren. The three generations of this family have been mourning the recent passing of their grandfather. However, they all emerged from their sadness and worked together to prepare for this show.

▶ Kim Yeong-pyo and His Family

“We had been a lively family until my father passed away. This fashion show helped us reconfirm the love in my family.”

▶ Gyeonggi Small & Medium Business Center (July 25)

Gyeonggi Family Fashion Show

The underlying theme of the show that took place the next day focused more on familial love than on the clothes presented.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Social Integration Vice Governor Lee Gi-woo

“This is an event about family love. It also aims to inspire people to have a loving family and thus overcome the current low national birth rate.”

Kim’s family made a great presentation that included face masks and dancing to music on the runway.

▶ Value of Family Conveyed by Touching Stories

Selected from among 155 applicants, each of a total of twenty families presented unique stories and performances. One family hoped their participation would aid the recovery of their ailing father, while another family celebrated the birth of their mother’s first baby in ten years. Every family featured in this show exuded love and the importance of family. The show ended with the presentation of prizes.

▶ First Prize Went to Kim’s Family

It was Kim’s family that won the top prize. The members of his family were overwhelmed by the happy results of days of hard work.

▶ Kim Yeong-pyo and His Family

“This event helped us regain strong family bonds. We are grateful for this opportunity to make such happy memories.”

“Look! I got the first prize!”

It was not only Kim’s family but also all the other participating families, who worked for over a month to prepare for this show, who left the event with happy memories. It was also an event in which the audience could appreciate how valuable love is for the happiness of family members.

Article 3. Gyeonggi Province Employees Interns (0728-3)

[Anchor’s Headline]

With the youth unemployment rate hitting new highs, Gyeonggi Province set an example by hiring university students as interns so as to provide them with administration work experience during summer vacation. Our reporter witnessed their first day of work.

[Report]

▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Human Resource Development Institute (July 27)

Administration Intern Orientation

On the first day of their administration internship, university students attended an orientation session held at a Gyeonggi institute. Dressed in official attire for the first time, these interns appear serious while listening to the instructors.

▶ Choi Da-yeong / Gyeonggi Province Administration Intern

“This is a valuable opportunity to experience serious work. I started my first day of work with the attitude of a learner.”

Two hundred and fifty interns will be allocated to sixteen provincial organizations and work eight hours a day for five weeks.

▶ Higher Pay than Minimum Statutory Wage and Include 4 Insurances

Interns are paid a rate higher than the minimum wage at KRW 6,810 per hour including insurance coverage.

▶ Participation in Key Provincial Projects

The greatest benefit of working as a provincial administration intern is the opportunity to experience key provincial projects as active participants.

▶ Moon Jeong-hui / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Planning Team

“Instead of doing simple administration work, interns will be assigned with actual key projects. We hope that they will perform well as Gyeonggi Province personnel and…”

▶ Excellent Interns to be Rewarded

Interns were divided into a number of teams and assigned individual projects. At the end of the internship period, these teams will present their performance results in a manner much like a contest. The best performing team will be rewarded with a prize of KRW 2 million.

The experience gained by these students during their administration internship will be a valuable asset for their future careers.

Article 4. 70-Day MERS Outbreak in Korea Ends (0730-1)

[Anchor’s Headline]

The MERS outbreak in Korea has effectively ended seventy days after the appearance of the first diagnosed case on May 20. There has been talk about the improper management of the disease, especially in the early stages, but there were also remarkable and praiseworthy feats.

[Report]

▶ 62 of 70 MERS Patients in Gyeonggi Province Released from Hospitals

Of a total of 186 MERS cases diagnosed in Korea, 70 occurred in Gyeonggi Province. Of these, 62 patients have recovered and been released from hospitals. The remaining patients are recuperating.

[CG-Overlap] The national MERS fatality rate was 19.4 percent. The fatality rate in Gyeonggi Province was much lower at 11.4 percent, less than one third of the world average of 38.6 percent.

Such a low fatality rate is attributed to effective disease management.

▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex (July 29)

Assessment of Responses to MERS

Realizing that the transfer of MERS occurred primarily at hospitals, Gyeonggi Province immediately established a MERS network incorporating public and private medical resources,

▶ Private-Public Medical MERS Network Established

It proved effective in limiting the spread of the disease.

▶ Lim Seung-gwan / Professor, Ajou University Hospital Infectious Disease Department

“The greatest merits were the formation of a management tem and the early identification of problems under effective leadership, as well as effective on-site management by specialists and officials.”

However, the best chance to control the disease was lost in the first week of the outbreak.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil

“It was my mistake that I regret most; I left the matter in the hands of the central government during the first week of the outbreak.”

▶ Lee Gi-byeong / President, Pyeongtaek St. Mary’s Hospiotal

“We weren’t prepared for the disease when patients started coming in, which also made it difficult for us to move on to subsequent processes.”

▶ Many Medical Personnel Contracted MERS

Among 186 MERS patients diagnosed nationally, as many as 39 were medical personnel who were involved in the treatment of the disease, which also raised public concern.

▶ Cho Gyeong-suk / Chairman, Gyeonggi Province Nurse Association

“The infection rate of nurses increased when the patient-to-nurse ratio exceeded 8. Which means that excessive workload can jeopardize nurses through the compromising of anti-infection rules.”

Gyeonggi Province has learned valuable lessons from the experience gained controlling MERS and is now better prepared for possible contagious disease outbreaks in the future.

Article 5. Gyeonggi Province Rated 1st in Fire & Traffic Safety

[Anchor’s Headline]

Gyeonggi Province was classified with the highest safety indexes in the fire and traffic categories of the Korean government’s safety policy assessment of local governments.

[Report]

▶ Gyeonggi Province Safest in Fire and Traffic Accidents

On July 29, the Ministry of Public Safety and Security announced safety indexes based on statistics for 2013. According to this announcement, Gyeonggi Province was rated safest among provinces in terms of fire and traffic accidents. Seoul also was rated highest in the same categories among metropolitan cities.

[CG] At the city and county level, the cities of Suwon (수원), Bucheon (부천), Ansan (안산), Goyang (고양) and Siheung (시흥) were rated highest in fire safety, while the cities of Suwon (수원), Bucheon (부천), Seongnam (성남) and Anyang (안양) were highest in traffic safety.

▶ Safety Levels Graded in Indexes of 1 to 5

The national safety indexes range from Index 1 to Index 5; these are calculated based on the safety-related statistics of localities. Factors for the fire safety index include the number of fatalities per 10,000 people as well as the density of high risk facilities and forests, while the traffic safety index considers the number of fatalities, registered vehicles and rescue personnel.

▶ Kim Jeong-hun / General Director, Gyeonggi Province Safety Management Office

“We achieved Index 1 only in the fire and traffic categories. We will continue to endeavor to secure the highest index in the five other categories: natural disasters, crime, safety accidents, suicides and infectious diseases.”

Being the most populated autonomy in Korea and thus prone to accidents of all sizes, Gyeonggi Province will not rest with securing the highest national safety indexes, but will continue to improve safety standards through various endeavors including the utilization of big data.

Article 6. Gyeonggi Province’s Apartment Quality Inspection Service (0729)

[Anchor’s Headline]

When a new apartment complex is being constructed, what concerns most purchasers is whether their apartments will be as perfect as the model houses exhibited by developers. In order to ensure the quality of new apartments on behalf of new home owners, Gyeonggi Province has been operating the Apartment Quality Inspection Team.

[Report]

▶ Apartment Complex Construction Site, Anyang City (July 28)

Apartment Quality Inspection Team

Inspectors check every detail of construction work from building entrances and front doors to toilets and fixtures.

▶ Choi Yong-hwa / Apartment Quality Inspector

“I checked the insulation gaps for urethane filling on the top floor and found that they were not filled at all.”

Inspections continue to see if windows are in proper working condition, if kitchen sinks are installed safely, and much more. Any defects are noted.

▶ So Hyun-jae / Apartment Resident in Wait

“I missed many things during the previous owners’ inspection. I am very grateful for the meticulous service of inspectors, and I feel greatly relieved now.”

The apartment quality inspection service is provided twice per each site: once after the completion of the structural framework and again before occupation by residents. Ninety four percent of the defects identified by the inspection team are remedied on average. During the meeting that follows, the inspectors ensure that the developers take the necessary actions to address defects.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil

“It is often very troublesome to find defects and have them remedied after occupation. These advance inspections are much more effective. We will continue to expand this service.”

When the apartment quality inspection service is expanded, the inspection team’s mandate will also include post-remedy inspections.

Article 7. Fuel Cell Power Plant to be Constructed in Ansan (0728)

[Anchor’s Headline]

A fuel cell power plant is slated for construction in Ansan (안산) City of Gyeonggi Province. This is the first substantial step towards energy self-sufficiency taken after the declaration of the 2030 Energy Vision by Gyeonggi Province.

[Report]

▶ MOU for Fuel Cell Power Plant Construction

Gyeonggi Province, Ansan City, and private energy enterprises signed an agreement for the construction of a 30 mega-watt fuel cell power plant to produce energy sufficient for 58,000 homes. Fuel cells use hydrogen from natural gas and oxygen from the air to produce electricity as well as thermal energy.

[CG] There are also purchasers committed to use the thermal energy and electricity generated by the plant. According to the agreement, Gyeonggi Province and Ansan (안산) City will provide administrative support, while private investors will form a joint venture company for the construction and operation of the plant.

▶ Ahn Se-cheon / CJ Jeil Jedang Ansan Plant Manager

“We expect to reduce our energy costs substantially by using steam from the fuel cell power plant.”

Gyeonggi Province expects that this plant will have the effect of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 22,000 tons while creating 1,200 new jobs.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil

“We have an ambitious plan to increase energy self-sufficiency from the current 30 percent to 70 percent by 2030. I am very pleased that this fuel cell power plant project will help us reduce our nuclear power dependence considerably.”

▶ Gyeonggi Province Resolved Limitations due to Development Restriction Zone Designation

Construction of this power plant was made possible by a recent amendment of the law that prohibits development within development restriction zones. The land lot for the plant is within such a zone near the CJ plant. Gyeonggi Province, however, persuaded the central government to make a legal amendment for an exception that was recently realized.

Thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV.

We look forward to seeing you again next week.